- More so than many of his fellow Detroit producers, Delano Smith is all about groove. His house and dub techno remains relatively minimal and straightforward, which explains why they are played by house DJs as diverse as Daniel Bell, Jus-Ed and Matthias Meyer. But underneath the functionality is a delicate touch, heard in tunnelling basslines and nimble percussion. They're Coming / Safe Place presents two new tracks in this timeless style, pairing twilit moods with the rolling grooves Smith has built his career on.
"Safe Place" is especially versatile. It's the kind of atmospheric deep house track that could help warm up a half-empty room or reset the energy at a packed afterhours. The shuffling percussion and three-note bassline loop are engineered to perfection, so the few other flourishes—some clicks, wooshing atmospherics—are all that's needed alongside them. The darker "They're Coming" lands closer to classic UK tech house. There are muffled vocals, chords and a bleepy melody, which make it a more intense option. I'd stick with "Safe Place," a slick deep house track with enough spark to fuel a range of dance floors—in other words, classic Delano Smith.
TracklistA They're Coming
B Safe Place